Serena Williams, that’s a name that will forever enshrine in the halls of tennis greats. In all honesty, her decision to retire from the sport was bitter-sweet. Her glorious legacy saw a natural conclusion at the 2022 US Open. The GOAT might be done with tennis, but the sport isn’t done with her. Fans have remained eager to acknowledge her invaluable takeaways for the younger generation. To be precise, Williams was asked for insight into her doubles success with her superstar sister, Venus Williams.
The former World No. 1 recently marked her attendance in New York as a spectator. During the hardcourt Slam, Williams indulged in conversations with several tennis stars, including Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe. What came next, was her candid admission on countrywoman Coco Gauff. Notably, Williams heaped praises on the young talent saying “Coco also has a massive tennis IQ. I think she uses her brain out there. Her movement is great … and I just love her mental toughness and her mental fortitude.” Fast forward to October, the 23-time Grand Slam champion has returned to the fold. Only this time, Williams replied to fans’ most requested queries.
Seating for an interview cum fan questionnaire with ‘Glamour‘, the 43-year-old read a comment opining that “singles are harder than doubles.” Noting her response, Williams highlighted her fruitful doubles journey with her 5-time Grand Slam champion of a sister. The former World No. 1 further highlighted a memorable doubles incident with Venus. She said, “Favorite memory from doubles impossible. One of my best memories in doubles is us losing and Venus is losing her mind on the court cuz she’s so calm. I was laughing the whole time and we lost four points because I couldn’t stop laughing.” For those unaware, the duo repeatedly showcased their synchronized and level-headed performances to pocket 14 Grand Slam doubles crowns and three Olympic gold medals.
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Serena Williams has never shied from expressing her awe-inspiring bond with her sister. The duo lived and fought through life struggles together and the bond with her sister helped the American star cope with several challenges on the Tour.
There’s no denying that Serena Williams and Venus Williams forever changed the face of modern tennis. What’s more intriguing, is that the duo never abandoned each other while enduring the overwhelming nature of the circuit’s schedule. While talking in the same interview, the 23-time Major winner laid bare the powerful female influence in her life, voicing the deep connection with her elder sister.
She said, “Some things never change. I don’t even want to not be codependent with her [Venus Williams]. I love her. I don’t want our lives to ever be separate. Tennis is so lonely. You’re on the road for 10 or 11 months out of the year. You rely on having someone else out there. And Venus was there, and who else was going to relate to me? We were successful, and we were Black. We leaned on each other.”
Post-retirement, Serena Williams has directed her focus toward several ventures. Not only that, but the former World No. 1 also takes pride in raising her two daughters, Olympia and Adira, and often showcases their captivating moments on social media. She is indeed enjoying life post retirement.
